Don A. Lortz, 25 Feb 1937 - 15 Oct 2024

LORTZ, GOODMAN, RINEHART, JOHNSON, PADILLA

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 10/18/2024 at 13:55:10

Don A. Lortz, age 87, of Williamsburg, passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg.

Born on a snowy afternoon back in February 25, 1937, Don Lortz burst into the quiet Lortz family, shaking up and adding joy, but likely no peace, to the lives of his father, Ralph William, his mother, Pearl Dorothy (Goodman) and sister Eileen (Rinehart). Eileen had been doing fine on her own, but after his arrival suddenly now found herself homesick when she attended sleepovers with friends.

He attended 4H, boy scouts, and FFA. Strangely, he would tell his mother, when asked what he wanted for dinner, "Let's have something good, like beans." Rhubarb pie, tomatoes and onions were always favorites, as well as, potatoes were a staple of every meal.

He had many good friends and attended dances at Danceland in Cedar Rapids, where he got to see the likes of Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly. His favorite activity was to chat. He could talk to anyone, curious about their lives and was happiest when he could make others laugh.

He farmed with his father, and painted for Harry Jones until drafted in 1960, much to his mother's consternation. He was called to Fort Ord, California for basic training. He then went on to El Paso, before ending up in Ft. Stewart, GA. He had many stories to tell about his army days. Knowing how to type and back up a truck with a trailer behind, allowed him to gain a good position where he always had access to a vehicle. He met his future wife, a "Georgia Peach" named Leo (Johnson) during this time, on a weekend excursion off-base with friends. The waitress at the 301 Diner in Glennville quickly had an admirer. They were married on August 12, 1961 in Glennville, GA. They moved back to Iowa where he took up farming with his father. He took pride in his farm and loved working the land and tending to the animals. In 1965 they welcomed a daughter, Philene Kay. In 1971, a second daughter Myia Lyn (Lortz-Padilla) rounded out the family before happily welcoming son-in-law Daniel Padilla in 2009.

An active member of the community, he was president of the Pilot Grove cemetery board, a member of the Ruritans, American Legion and the FSA Iowa County Soil and Water Conservation board. Always up for a good challenge, he and Harold Joseph (close friend, neighbor and farming partner) were successfully coerced into being leaders of the English Pilot 4-H club by their daughters. He also participated in the Bi-Centennial 4th of July beard contest, winning reddest beard.

Sadly, in the end, he succumbed to Alzheimer's, a disease that he was all too familiar with; watching his mother, grandfather, and several aunts and uncles follow the same path. And, while the disease may have taken his memories, it did not take his personality, nor his ability to joke and laugh. To that end, we wish that our father, husband, brother, uncle, and father-in-law would have been able to share his stories with us for much longer.

A visitation will be Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, we request memorials be sent to Essence of Life Hospice or the Williamsburg Fire Department. Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg is caring for Don and his family. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Published in The Gazette on October 17, 2024.